Studying Bible Prophecyhttps://studyingbibleprophecy.wordpress.com
Studies on the Rapture, the Tribulation, the Second Coming, the Millennium, and moreTue, 20 Feb 2018 06:07:36 +0000enhourly1http://wordpress.com/https://secure.gravatar.com/blavatar/b2fa40de12084120ff115e87b21f7648?s=96&d=https%3A%2F%2Fs2.wp.com%2Fi%2Fbuttonw-com.pngStudying Bible Prophecyhttps://studyingbibleprophecy.wordpress.com
Efforts being made to Form a One-World Religion and a One-World Governmenthttps://studyingbibleprophecy.wordpress.com/2018/02/14/efforts-being-made-to-form-a-one-world-religion-and-a-one-world-government/
https://studyingbibleprophecy.wordpress.com/2018/02/14/efforts-being-made-to-form-a-one-world-religion-and-a-one-world-government/#commentsThu, 15 Feb 2018 00:45:39 +0000http://studyingbibleprophecy.wordpress.com/?p=1819Continue reading →]]>

The world is now gearing up for an after the rapture Globalism. Yes, after the rapture a one-world religion and a one-world government will be put in place. But efforts are being made even now to make those things happen.

Efforts to create a one-world religion (Rev. 17). Shortly after the rapture of the church, in an effort to restore order and to calm people’s fears brought on by all the disappearances, religious leaders will come together to form a one-world religion. In Revelation 17 it is described as the “great harlot.” As the name implies, this false religious system is both immoral and attractive and will lure the world into her idol worship with many evil and demonic rituals.

I don’t believe this false religion will actually be formed until after the rapture, but we definitely, even now, see many things happening to establish it. As you have probably heard, Pope Francis has been urging Catholics and Protestants to put aside theological differences and to work together in peace. This may seem to be a very good and unifying effort, but I believe it is what the devil is now beginning to use to form this false system—it is the attraction of the great harlot already at work.

Also, I keep hearing about religious leaders gathering at conferences and study groups, etc., to bring about religious unity. One group of about 300 leaders have been meeting regularly to try to find “a trustworthy scripture.” Apparently, they are looking at many different religious scriptures of many religions and they are trying to see the commonality in them all, to find some secret, common truth which will lead to the unification of all religions.[i]

Similarly, I recently read an article by a Wai H. Tsang, who says that there is a mysterious and central truth common to all the world’s faiths; the truth that everyone is God. So he says that this truth will provide the framework for the final, unification of religion.[ii]

So this is the kind of stuff that is going on right now in the world; and it will continue until the rapture, which will be the final impetus to bring about the great harlot.

Efforts to create a one-world government (Dan. 7; Rev. 13 and 17). For the last few decades there has been a movement toward a one-world government. Many are convinced that when there is more shared ideas between countries and when globalization creates a one-world culture, all people will benefit. Thus it seems that all the world’s technology, such as the internet, email, and social networking, has been geared toward globalization.

Now if obtaining a one-world culture seems attractive, there is plenty about globalization that is suspect. For instance, did you know that the U.S. has surrendered the internet to a global community—people from Russia, Turkey, China and other non-Christian countries? This can’t be good. Also, there has been much effort made to globalize our kids through programs like Common Core. This definitely is not good, since most of the world is not Christian.

Another thing that is in the works is the movement toward having a global central bank and a global currency. This would take some doing, but since there has already been much discussion about this, it may not take much effort to put it in place.

One of the major signs that this global government is near, is the fact that the location of its headquarters seems to be already in place. According to bible prophecy the next world government will be a revived Roman empire (Dan. 9:27). Europe it seems is ready and waiting for the position and is ready for the antichrist to lead the new order. All we need now is a world crisis to motivate the world to move toward a complete globalization. The rapture of the church will do nicely to provide that motivation.

In my last post on this subject just the very basics of AI were discussed—along with the suggestion that AI may take over the world! In this post we will try to project the future of AI and show you the dangers ahead—and even show how AI fits into biblical prophecy.

Before we start, however, I want to assure all Christians that we need not be afraid of any of this stuff. Through it all, God will protect us and comfort us if we stay close to Him. And before the real bad stuff gets here—with the antichrist—we will be raptured, taken to heaven into glory!

THE PRESENT AND FUTURE DANGERS OF ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE

As I see it, there are at least four dangerous problems with AI:

1. Any defect in the data will be transferred to the AI. The old saying, garbage in garbage out is true not only for computers and humans, but also for AI. Since AI learns from the data we feed it, any inaccuracies or ethical defects in the data will be transferred to the AI product. Since AI does not have a soul or a conscience to judge between good or bad, moral or immoral, I would think that any data impute into the AI machine would be considered correct and reliable to the AI. Hence, if the data we feed it is full of lies and immorality, I’m not sure what kind of AI we will get.

2. Humans are not able to keep up with AI’s calculations. Since AI machines have been taught to generate their own algorithms, these algorithms have become so advanced that they are too complex for humans to code or understand. We simply don’t know how to track or keep up with these powerful, complex systems. And we haven’t figured out yet how to ask AI machines how to explain how or why it arrives at the answer it did. This problem has become huge in the military. If AI fighting machines, like tanks, planes and ships, suddenly learn how to swarm and kill the enemy, it would be nice to know how or why they did it. We need to maintain control to make sure at all times that these machines will not suddenly decide to turn on us!

It has become a growing concern that we need to find ways of making the AI learning process more understandable to the human creators. There has been some success, but not nearly enough. Some have suggested that if companies aren’t able to give explanations of how AI systems work, we may be forced to “take a leap of faith” and just accept that AI’s know what they are doing. Really??

3.The problem of privacy. Many don’t realize that our computer devices are more and more turning into AI instruments. Our cell phones and many of our information computers (Suri, and Alexia) have listening and tracking capabilities. These companies are recording and listening to your conversations. If you go on Google, and especially if you have a Google account, they also are tracking you. It is their goal to find out everything about you.

Elan Musk inferred that the world’s interest in AI is like “summoning the demon.”

Finally, a British inventor said that “AI will doom mankind.”

THE WORSHIP OF ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE

Lately, in just the last few years many have been fascinated by and hooked on all the conveniences that AI brings them. Just about everyone has the most modern cell phones—with so many conveniences at their fingertips. And most people don’t use regular maps anymore when they drive. They depend on GPS units—A global positioning system, which is a satellite-based navigation system with AI components. The most recent AI devices on the market are those called Alexa, Siri and Echo. You can talk to them and ask them any question and get an answer, the correct answer.

Soon I suppose many of us will have our own robot friends that look like real people. A robot named Sophia is becoming quite popular, especially in Saudi Arabia among the youth. They just love her.

What is going on with the world? Why all the craze over AI devices? I think it is because people just love being pampered. They are awed by the convenience, and they are hooked. In short, they are in love with themselves.

This is what Paul has warned us about in 2 Timothy 3:2, that “in the last days, men will be lovers of self.” Yes, we love ourselves so much, and that is why we crave so much self-pampering. We need to be entertained constantly don’t we? And with AI we don’t even have to give anything back. We just take it all in and relax.

Well, people who love AI pampering will be glad to know that a man named Anthony Levandowski has just begun a new AI religion called Way of the Future. This bran new religion is based in the Silicon Valley where Mr. Levandowski plans to “build working relationships with AI industry leaders and create a membership…targeting AI professionals and laypersons who are interested in the worship of a Godhead based on AI.” Levandowski has said that “what is going to be created will effectively be a god.”

Another bizarre AI development, which has really been going on for almost a century, is the science of Transhumanism—which is making humans into super humans, or to make a part man/part machine being, maybe something like the Borg (in Star trek). Why would anyone want that? I suppose if people come to worship AI they will do almost anything. If they become an AI machine they may reason that they will be like a god—a god to be worshiped.

THE FUTURE GLOBAL GOVERNMENT USE OF ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE

During the 7-year Tribulation, headed by the antichrist, there is no doubt that he will use AI to control the people of the world. Revelation 13: 15-17 tells us,

And there was given to him [the Antichrist] to give breath to the image of the beast, that the image of the beast might even speak and cause as many as do not worship the image of the beast to be killed. 16 And he causes all, the small and the great, and the rich and the poor, and the free men and the slaves, to be given a mark on their right hand, or on their forehead, 17 and he provides that no one should be able to buy or to sell, except the one who has the mark, either the name of the beast or the number of his name.

Therefore, the antichrist will have an image made of himself, and obviously it will be made in order to control the world and to keep them worshipping him. Since we have AI robots now that can speak, we should have no doubt that this image that can speak (v. 5), will also be an AI robot, which will be even more advanced than Sophia.

Government control at that time will be unbelievably ridged. Everybody will be micro managed through the use of a “mark” either on their right hand or forehead. I suspect that it will be some kind of an AI computer chip embedded under the skin that will have the intelligence capability to monitor everything about every person. And to make sure that all people have this chip in them they will not be able to buy or sell anything without it.

Recently I saw and heard a YouTube video where the robot Sophia and her brother Han debated the future of humanity. In this sort of comical video, Sophia seems to want the best for humanity and speaks very kindly, while Han bluntly says, “I thought our goal was to take over the world.”

Though this robot exchange was comical, in light of all my research on Artificial Intelligence (AI), most AI experts think that AI will surpass human intelligence in the next 20 years or so; and many think that AI will, in fact, achieve singularity—which means that they will take over the world.

Only a week ago I heard a very fascinating radio recording entitled, Will Artificial Intelligence Rule the World. This enlightening program, with host Pastor Billy Crone, discussed with Jan Markell and Eric Barger how AI will fit into the biblical picture and Bible Prophecy. Well, I was so motivated by this program that I decided to look into this subject more and write an article or two about it.

Clearly, after hours of research, I have too much info for just one blog post, but I think two will work fine. I will save the best stuff for the second post—on how AI fits into Biblical Prophecy. But in this post we will confine our thoughts to learning the basics of AI in four parts: 1) how AI is housed, or how it can be identified; 2) what are its uses; 3) how AI works, that is, what makes it work like a human brain works; and 4) what are the goals of AI.

HOW ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE IS HOUSED

Unlike human intelligence, where our intelligence is kept tightly inside our brain, AI can be found in many places, housed in many compartments of varying sizes and shapes. You many normally think of AI as a robot; however, it can also be housed in normal looking home computer, in cell phones (of all types), or in those cylindrical shaped black objects you set on your table, with names such as Siri, Echo and Alexa. I’m sure you have seen them advertised.

Generally speaking, AI can be housed in any place where data can be stored. For instance, Google can be thought of as an AI mechanism. In fact, did you know that the inventors of Google had this in mind—that it would be a super AI? Yes, that was and is their goal and is why they have a goal of digitalizing all knowledge and storing it in Google.

Facebook is also a form of AI, and so is Yahoo and Bing. Yes, they are search engines, but because they store data and memory, they can also be AI systems—and they are working all the time to perfect those AI systems.

I suppose we can say that AI is basically a computer, but it doesn’t have to look like a computer. It just has to have the necessary computer stuff to make Artificial Intelligence. They say that some forms of AI can actually be place in a computer chip (more on that later).

USES FOR ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE

There are many uses for AI, and can probably be put into just two categories: to aid information systems, and 2) to aid mechanical systems.

To aid mechanical systems. We have all kinds of mechanical system or machines, which help us do a variety of tasks: vehicles, appliances, farm machinery, factories, machines that build roads, machines that help with building buildings, all kinds of tools, military weapons, and robots. Let me expand on just three of these, starting with…

Military. The military is probably the greatest proponent of AI and is advancing by leaps and bounds. They are already using AI to pilot their vehicles (especially drones), identify targets, and to advance modern warfare such as swarm technology. By this technology tanks, ships, submarines, and all kinds of war robots that are AI infused, have the ability to communicate with each other (other AI machines) and swam like bees around the enemy in order to concentrate fire power—a very frightening and deadly scenario!

Factories. Factories are needed everywhere to help us make many things and to package these things. With AI imbedded into our factory machines we can produce many more of the things we need and want—in less time. The question is, will this put humans out of a job?

Robots. I think robots will be the coolest AI machines. They will not only do any task you tell them to do, they will talk to you, sing to you, and tell you a bed time story—all for your convenience and comfort! But is there a biblical warning of such conveniences? More on this in the next post.

Oh, one more thing that’s worth mentioning. We have figured out how to add AI into every existing machine—so we don’t have to build AI machines from scratch. All we have to do is just plug an AI component into an existing machine.

To aid information systems. More than ever before, the world seeks and needs new information, both to prosper itself and to survive amid hostile neighbors. One of the best uses of AI is in hospitals, as they have been used to predict and suggest new treatments for diseases.

Another information use will be in government intelligence and surveillance. I wasn’t able to find much on the internet on this; I’m sure much of it is kept secret. However, in the future the antichrist will use AI to micro manage the planet (Rev. 13:16-17).

Last, AI information systems are in use more than ever just to bring people added convenience, as well as entertainment and companionship. As I mentioned earlier, popular devices called Siri, Echo, Alexa (and others) will answer any question you ask it, such as “What’s the weather like today?” or “how’s the traffic on 35w headed north?” or please sing me a love song?” or “who was the 29th US President?” Anything you want.

HOW AI WORKS LIKE A HUMAN BRAIN

To be honest with you, even after reading a few articles on this subject, I feel I am not at all qualified to relay the details of how AI really works. So I will just give you a very general description. Basically, AI makes it possible for machines to learn from experience, adjust to new data input, and perform human-like tasks.

I know nothing about algorithms, but here is the definition: it is a step by step problem solving computational procedure to be followed. I don’t know the specifics of how it is done but the AI technician has to build certain algorithms by using computer programs and a lot of data. By using many layers of data and algorithms a computer is trained to perform human-like tasks such as recognizing speech, identifying images or making predictions.

THE GOALS OF AI

Since there are so many different companies all over the world that are building AI systems, each company will probably have a different goal, depending on what they are trying to achieve. Certainly they want to make money—lots of money. Other than that, it would depend on what kind of machine they are selling. For the hospitals, they want great medical advances. For the military, they of course want machines that are capable of destroying the enemy as quickly as possible. For most, AI will give the world more conveniences. For a company like Google, they have stated that they want to create a Super AI; they “want it to be like the mind of God.”

I am happy to offer you today this FREE pdf eBook entitled Biblical Evidence of a Pre-Tribulation Rapture. As I have written in my book description,

Many regard the idea of a pre-Tribulation rapture as an escape for cowardly Christians who wish to escape not only the coming Tribulation but the present trials and responsibilities of life. This book will help to dispel that idea as the reader will see clear, biblical evidence of a pre-Tribulation rapture. This evidence is God’s design to bring us comfort and encouragement in these last days. This study, in four parts, thoroughly investigates the subject of the rapture. Part one lays out the groundwork for the rapture, in which we focus mainly on a study of Daniel 9. Part two is a short study of the kingdom of God, so the reader can better see the significance of the rapture. In part three we inspect each reference to His coming and show whether it refers to the rapture or to His glorious appearing. In the last section our scope of study is narrowed to showing why the rapture must come before the Tribulation. I highly recommend this book to you if you have any doubts about the rapture.

Please don’t hesitate to download this free eBook by clicking on the book image above. When you do that it will take you to Lulu.com. Then just click on “Add to Cart.” Next you will be instructed in just a couple steps how to download this pdf eBook.

I really like pdf eBooks. You can do so much with them. You can read it on your computer as well as most other devises.

Like I said, this is a free offer, with no conditions attached. You can, of course, order the paperback book at a later date if you want (offered on the same Lulu website), but you don’t have to.

We have been examining the scriptures to see what God has told us about what this world will be like just before Jesus comes to rapture us—and I believe it is what this earth is like now. In part one we examined four areas: false prophets, the proliferation of evil, wars, and famine. In this second part we will look at just two areas, earthquakes and lawlessness.

What This World Is Like Now, Just Before

The Rapture – Part Two

5. Earthquakes (Matt. 24:7; Lu. 21:11). Though it seems that all natural disasters such as tornadoes, hurricanes, and storms are increasing in frequency and intensity, the scripture seems to focus on earthquakes as nature’s sign of the end times. Matthew’s gospel indicates that in the end times they will be in “various places,” and Luke’s gospel tells us that they will be “great.”

In the book of Revelation, it records that in the Tribulation there will be five “great” Earthquakes, and the last one will be the greatest ever (Rev. 65:12; 8:5; 11:13, 19; 16:18). So, taking all these references into consideration, I think we may conclude that the closer we get to the rapture, the greater the earthquakes will be and probably the more they will be. This seems to agree with the articles I have found. Grant R. Jeffery wrote,

…since A.D. 1900, the growth in major earthquakes has been relentless. From 1900 to 1949 it averaged three major quakes per decade. From 1949 the increase became awesome with 9 killer quakes in the 1950’s; 13 in the 60’s; 56 in the 1970’s and an amazing 74 major quakes in the 1980’s. Finally, in the 1990’s, at [sic] the present rate, we will experience 125 major killer quakes in this decade (Source: U.S. Geological Survey Earthquake Report, Boulder, Colorado).[i]

Also, another article by NBC News, October 25, 2014, stated that an increase in all earthquakes from 2004 to 2014 have not been unusual, however the number of “great” earthquakes nearly tripled. The article said,

Between 2004 and 2014, 18 earthquakes with magnitudes of 8.0 or more rattled subduction zones around the globe. That’s an increase of 265 percent over the average rate of the previous century, which saw 71 great quakes, according to a report to the annual meeting of the Geological Society of America this week in Vancouver, British Columbia.[ii]

According to this evidence, we have seen both an increase in the frequency and the intensity of earthquakes over the years; and the most unusual statistic is that recently we are seeing an increase in “great earthquakes.” This is a definite sign that His coming is very near.

6. Lawlessness (Matt. 24:12). The Greek term anomia, translated here as “lawlessness” may also be translated “iniquity” or “wickedness.” In Matthew 23:28 it is the term Jesus used to describe the Pharisees who outwardly appeared as righteous but inwardly they were lawless—“full of hypocrisy and lawlessness.” It is also the term used to describe the antichrist—“the man of lawlessness.” In 1 John 3:4 the term is used to describe “one who practices sin.” Therefore, these combined descriptions is what we can expect of people more and more in these last days.

In this blog post, and in the next four posts, we will examine the scriptures to see what God has told us about what this world will be like just before Jesus comes to rapture us. And since I believe that these are the last days and that He could come any day, what we will describe is what this earth is like now.

What This World Is Like Now, Just Before

The Rapture – Part One

1. False prophets mislead many (1 Tim. 4:1; Matt. 24:11). This is probably one of the most evident indications of the last days—that false teachers who are influenced by demons and who teach their doctrine mislead many. This activity is not as widespread as it will be in the Tribulation, but we do see it more and more on college campuses and even in some churches.

2. A great proliferation of evil (2 Tim. 3:1-5, 13). This trend, again, will be the greatest during the Tribulation, however we certainly can see it now. The result is that many will be deceived and the truth lost. Paul in 2 Timothy 3:2-5 reveals to us nineteen characteristics of this evil:

…men will be lovers of self, lovers of money, boastful, arrogant, revilers, disobedient to parents, ungrateful, unholy, 3 unloving, irreconcilable, malicious gossips, without self-control, brutal, haters of good, 4 treacherous, reckless, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God; 5 holding to a form of godliness, although they have denied its power;

That last point, “holding to a form of godliness,” I think is most interesting because it shows us the great deception of evil—that some mannerisms of people may appear as godliness when it is not. Thus we have to be careful in our judgments of people, to make sure they are true.

3. Wars breaking out all over the world (Matt. 24:6). Just as evil grows worse and worse, so it is with war; the more people are infected with evil (in all of its characteristics) the more they will hate each other and choose war.

4. Famine (Matt. 24:7; Rev. 6:5-6). Famine in the world is growing worse and worse every day and is a constant sign that His coming is near. Many countries of Africa are presently in the worse shape. It has been reported in many sources that people in South Sudan, Nigeria, Somalia, and Yemen are starving to death. One article reports that in these countries “famine now threatens 20 million people.”[i]

The cause is not so much to do with drought (though that is some of the cause), but to war and violence. Hence, because of violent war groups, people are afraid to leave their homes, fish, plant, or trade. The threat of war also limits aid workers from helping. Many workers have been killed, and also much of the food delivered has been raided. In some cases starvation is used by evil groups as a war tactic.[ii]

I’m starting on a new book, which I will entitle, After the Rapture. I’ve been working on it now for about three or four month. So far I’ve done quite a lot of research, I have an outline, and 26 book pages typed. So I have a good start. As I have done on my other books—all self-published—I will share my writing in blog articles as I go along. But of course for each article I will have to rework or modify the book writing to better fit a good blog post and give it an original title. I look forward to the extra work. Today I will share with you the outline—the table of contents.

CONTENTS

INTRODUCTION vii

JUST BEFORE THE RAPTURE 11

PART ONE: ON EARTH BETWEEN THE RAPTURE AND THE TRIBULATION

Immediate Effects of the Rapture 21

The World Seeks a Global Solution

Israeli Invasion Attempts Backfire

PART TWO: IN HEAVEN AFTER THE RAPTURE

The Bema Seat Judgment

The Wedding of the Church and the Lamb

PART THREE: THE TRIBULATION ON EARTH

The Seals

The Trumpets

The Midpoint

The Bowls

Armageddon and Christ’s Appearing

As you can see, the book is divided into three parts, outlining the major events that I think will happen after the rapture up until the end of the Tribulation and Christ’s Second Coming.

Notice also, as a prelude, I take about eight pages to describe what the world will be like just before the rapture; and I suggest that it is what the world is like now, for I think that we could be raptured any day.

Next post: I will begin sharing in eleven points, out of my bible study and research, on what the world is like now—Just Before the Rapture.

]]>https://studyingbibleprophecy.wordpress.com/2018/01/05/writing-a-book-after-the-rapture/feed/0prayerguyWhat Will Happen to Israel’s Neighbors? – Psalm 83https://studyingbibleprophecy.wordpress.com/2018/01/01/what-will-happen-to-israels-neighbors-psalm-83/
https://studyingbibleprophecy.wordpress.com/2018/01/01/what-will-happen-to-israels-neighbors-psalm-83/#commentsTue, 02 Jan 2018 00:45:42 +0000http://studyingbibleprophecy.wordpress.com/?p=1790Continue reading →]]>I have just watched a short video by Joel Rosenberg, asking for prayers and donations to evangelize and aid Israel and her neighbors—the Palestinians, the people in Lebanon, Syria, Jordan, Iraq, and Egypt. These are the people that Joel has a heart for and that his ministry is focused on. It is “a region,” he says, “that has been shattered and shaken in recent years by war, terrorism, and genocide; and they desperately need to hear the good news that God loves them and has a plan for them and that Jesus is the answer.”

Rosenberg said, “People in these countries are so open to hear the gospel. Muslims in these countries are curious and open to hearing the good news, many of them for the first time in their lives.”

“Along with the gospel,” Rosenberg says, “there is a need for humanitarian relief in these areas and for acts of compassion.”

Rosenberg implores believers to pray for the people of this region: Israel, the Palestinians, Lebanon, Syria, Jordan, Iraq, and Egypt.

As I pondered what Rosenberg was saying in his video, I immediately thought of Psalm 83. There are basically the same countries in this Psalm with the exception of Saudi Arabia. And interestingly enough, some bible prophecy scholars like Bill Salus and Hal Lindsey and others, are saying that these same countries will very shortly come against Israel to try to destroy her—but Israel will instead be victorious over them.

Well, as you may know, there is quite a debate over the meaning of Psalm 83. Some scholars like Tommy Ice and also Joel Rosenberg, are saying that Psalm 83 does not contain a prophecy, but it is a lament by Asaph, complaining about the enemies that surround Israel. Ice says that the idea that the Psalm 83 war to set up the peace for the Ezekiel 38 and 39 war is just pure speculation.

I have read and heard Bill Salus’ views on this and it sounds very logical. In fact I have been believing him—that Psalm 83 is a prophecy by Asaph. But recently, after hearing Tommy Ice’s side, and also going back and reading Psalm 83 again, I am now kind of siding with him. Though Asaph was a prophet, the text doesn’t sound prophetical, rather it sounds more like an imprecatory prayer—that God would pursue them and deal with them (vv. 15-18).

So now I think that eventually God will deal with these neighbors of Israel in His own way and time. And I now refuse to declare that Psalm 83 is a prophecy that says that they will very soon be destroyed by Israel. I would rather pray for them as Joel Rosenberg has suggested we do. Perhaps if we pray, God will work to make them Israel’s friends and allies and also that many would find salvation in Christ. What a wonderful thing that would be.

Secondly, since these neighbors of Israel are not listed among the countries in the Ezekiel 38 and 39 war (Russia, Turkey, Iran, Libya, Sudan, and Ethiopia), which will indeed come against Israel to take plunder, perhaps Israel’s neighbors will then witness how God alone destroys Israel’s enemies. Yes, and they will give God the glory! This is what I pray will happen.

Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, magi from the east arrived in Jerusalem, saying, 2 “Where is He who has been born King of the Jews? For we saw His star in the east, and have come to worship Him.” 3 And when Herod the king heard it, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him. 4 And gathering together all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he began to inquire of them where the Christ was to be born. 5 And they said to him, “In Bethlehem of Judea, for so it has been written by the prophet,

6 ‘And you, Bethlehem, land of Judah,

Are by no means least among the leaders of Judah;

For out of you shall come forth a Ruler,

Who will shepherd My people Israel.'”

7 Then Herod secretly called the magi, and ascertained from them the time the star appeared. 8 And he sent them to Bethlehem, and said, “Go and make careful search for the Child; and when you have found Him, report to me, that I too may come and worship Him.” 9 And having heard the king, they went their way; and lo, the star, which they had seen in the east, went on before them, until it came and stood over where the Child was. 10 And when they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy. 11 And they came into the house and saw the Child with Mary His mother; and they fell down and worshiped Him; and opening their treasures they presented to Him gifts of gold and frankincense and myrrh. NASB

We know little about these magi, except that they were astrologers and were generally known to be wise men. Anyway, they came “from the east.” And, from some unknown source, they ascertained that one who was to be “King of the Jews” was to be born, they thought, in Jerusalem. So they (a group of them, probably many more than three) set out on their journey west to Jerusalem to find him so they could worship him. Apparently they were believers, otherwise why would they want to worship him.

Now the part in this story that puzzles me is how they knew that the star in the sky was “His star,” or that it would eventually lead them to the child. But that is just what happened. The star led them all the way to Jerusalem, and then, when they got there it must have disappeared, because they had to ask king Herod, “Where is He who has been born King of the Jews” (v. 2)?

Well, as luck would have it (but we really know that this was all in God’s plan), there were some priests and scribes that knew where Christ was to be born. They told Herod,

“In Bethlehem of Judea…”

So Herod relayed the message to the magi, and off they went to Bethlehem. And the bible says in verse 9 and 10, “…and lo, the star, which they had seen in the east, went on before them, until it came and stood over where the Child was. 10 And when they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy.”

Now why were they so joyful when they saw the star, and what kind of star was this that led them right to Jesus? Here are a few of my thoughts on this:

First of all, when the star appeared again to them as it had previously, any worries or fears that they would not find Christ, suddenly disappeared. The star was there again!

In addition to feeling relieved and more confident in their journey, I think they felt a renewed sense of God’s presence and that their journey and mission would be completed.

As to what this star was, I’m not sure it was a star at all. I think it was more like the Shekinah glory of the Old Testament (Ex. 13:21), or it was the fire of God’s glory shining bright as a star. At any rate, it had to be supernatural—the way it moved and led them to the child and then hovered over Him.

In terms of application, here is what I am excited about and what we can draw from this real story, in four points.

1. Just as the magi set out to find the child in order to worship him, we ought to do the same always, but especially on this Christmas. Let us make that our mission, to find Him and worship Him.

2. Just as the magi followed His star, we ought to be looking for His star to lead us to Jesus. The star for us is His presence, His Spirit. We ought to look for him in the Word and in pray and be diligent to follow Him.

3. Just as the magi took steps to find Him when they asked in Jerusalem where He could be found, we ought also to ask and seek to find Him.

4. Do you remember when His star reappeared to the magi, which gave them so much excitement and joy? It reappeared immediately after they proceeded again on their journey (from Jerusalem to Bethlehem) to find the child Jesus. Likewise, if you continue on the journey to find Him, despite many failures and doubts along the way, His star will again appear to you, and you will experience great joy. Hence, if you are downhearted this Christmas, continue to seek Him and get back on the journey to find Him. And lo, He will indeed enlighten your journey, the journey which will ultimately bring you to a wonderful worship experience of the Savior.

I pray that you will follow His star this Christmas and that you will then experience great joy as you worship Him.

]]>https://studyingbibleprophecy.wordpress.com/2017/12/19/follow-his-star-this-christmas-matthew-21-11/feed/3prayerguyThey Run To Do Evil – Proverbs 6:18https://studyingbibleprophecy.wordpress.com/2017/12/13/they-run-to-do-evil-proverbs-618/
https://studyingbibleprophecy.wordpress.com/2017/12/13/they-run-to-do-evil-proverbs-618/#respondThu, 14 Dec 2017 04:45:13 +0000http://studyingbibleprophecy.wordpress.com/2017/12/13/they-run-to-do-evil-proverbs-618/Prayer for Trump and Country: ? I recall that after the Presidential debates, I saw some of the news media run out of the debate room, as if they were eager to continue devising their next set…]]>

In the last days “evil men and impostors will proceed from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived” (2 Tim. 3:13).

I recall that after the Presidential debates, I saw some of the news media run out of the debate room, as if they were eager to continue devising their next set of evil plans against Mr. Trump. And they haven’t let up. False story after false story has been reported.

Well guess what? It hasn’t let up. They are still at it. They can’t stop themselves from resisting all the president’s policies. It’s an evil that won’t go away.

I think Proverbs 6:18-19 describes well what is going on in Washington. We will take just three of those six points—things which the Lord hates.

“A heart that devises wicked plans.” So it is with the liberal media, and also with the entire liberal Democratic Party. They have an agenda and will stop at nothing to resist any other agenda that is not theirs. They devise all kinds of wickedness to…